Chivalry In Bisclavret By Marie De France

Chivalry lives inside everyone today just as it did during the middle ages. Not only was chivalry alive in the middle ages, but it is also alive today. In Marie De France’s lay Bisclavret a knight, troubled with the effects of being a werewolf, is tricked by his wife and lead to his demise. When his king comes across the werewolf, Bisclavret, he is struck by the wolf’s actions of plea toward him and takes him under his care. Now a part of the knighthood once again Bisclavret never leaves King Arthurs side until his wife returns and he seeks his revenge. In the text Bisclavret the idea of chivalry, through outlets of loyalty and forbearance, is explored and can pertain to modern day society.
Loyalty, a medieval component of chivalry, still …show more content…
Bisclavret was a noble knight and he was one of his lord’s closest advisors. When Arthur discovered him he was drawn to the way Bisclavret humbled himself before him and pleaded for mercy. A knight is never allowed to break his commitment between himself and his lord. Bisclavret never left Arthur’s side, “he kept very close to the king, as he did not want to be separated from him and had no wish to abandon him” (France, 70). By staying close to Arthur’s side Bisclavret shows his servitude towards his lord and proves his allegiance to the knighthood. As the story comes to a conclusion Arthur returns Bisclavret’s land to him and grants him many other gifts. The relationship between a knight and his lord can be applied to the military. Today men and women risk their lives to fight for their country. Soldiers take an oath to protect their nation and these soldiers are showing the loyalty and devotion to their commanding officers and the US as a whole. Soldiers are taught respect, however they do not always receive it back. The modern military is chivalrous. It is built on morality, courage, honor and most importantly …show more content…
When Bisclavret took hi revenge on his wife he “tore her nose right off her face” (France, 71). Instead of killing her he gave her the worst punishment. By taking off her nose he showed his self-control, forbearance. This restraint allowed him to show no mercy, but keep in control in order to get the best result. Forbearance is also seen in Bisclavret when he was patient with the other knights. The wise man said that “’this beast has lived with you and every single one of us has seen him over a long period… Never before has he touched a soul or committed a hostile act… By the faith I owe you, he has some grudge against her and also her husband” (France, 71). Bisclavret, by having self-control and acting well around the knights he was able to prove that he was trustworthy. When he attacked the knight and his ex-wife he was showing the knights that they had had wronged him and the knights only believed him because he had showed moderation. Currently forbearance can be seen in the way that people treat the court system. It takes a very chivalrous person to be able to be patient enough to have self-control and not to take revenge on the person that wronged them, but to wait until a better punishment can be